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erinandbooks's review against another edition
3.5
The blurb is quite misleading bit this was a really interesting novel that challenged not just religiosity but also gender.
preciousbodle's review against another edition
dark
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
_emma's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beneduck's review against another edition
5.0
I NEVER REVIEWED THIS??? My favorite book???? And I’ve never reviewed it?????
This is my favorite book and has been since I read it. My first LG. My discipleship began here. This was required reading for a class about medieval and early modern women and this book blew. Me. Away. It is graphic and lyrical and deeply profound and tactile (AND SEXY)!!! Reading this book is like climbing into a deep warm nest and eating stew and thinking about your mom. Talks about the beauty of religion in a way that is fresh and clean and SO PROFOUND. I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
This is my go-to recommendation for people whom I love. Groffites should begin their journey here. I can’t say enough lovely things about this book.
Also, this isn’t the ed. i have I don’t think — I’ve lost the dust jacket.
This is my favorite book and has been since I read it. My first LG. My discipleship began here. This was required reading for a class about medieval and early modern women and this book blew. Me. Away. It is graphic and lyrical and deeply profound and tactile (AND SEXY)!!! Reading this book is like climbing into a deep warm nest and eating stew and thinking about your mom. Talks about the beauty of religion in a way that is fresh and clean and SO PROFOUND. I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
This is my go-to recommendation for people whom I love. Groffites should begin their journey here. I can’t say enough lovely things about this book.
Also, this isn’t the ed. i have I don’t think — I’ve lost the dust jacket.
benoliver's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
snaillydia's review against another edition
3.0
A young woman named Marie has been deemed too unwomanly for court, thus she is ordered to become the prioress of a starving abbey. Matrix follows her from the day she arrives, angry at this rejection and in denial that the rest of her days will be spent as a nun.
I expected the anger to be ever present in this novel, but it fades. Marie's attitude shifts as she spends years, decades, in the abbey. And we do follow her for the span of decades, the events of the book are told in vignettes of abbey life.
I had a hard time in the beginning. We spent a lot of time establishing Marie's past right off the bat, where I think it would have been preferable to sprinkle those memories in between the abbey vignettes. Once Marie really started getting the hang of this nun thing, that's when I started enjoying the novel more. The characters and conflicts Groff chooses to focus on are interesting and fun. However, that also got old eventually. Nuns live, nuns work, nuns die.
The best work here is the character study of Marie, how she builds her influence and why. We get some beautiful prose too, sapphic longing and joy. But I don't think it did any of these things fantastically enough to be memorable.
I expected the anger to be ever present in this novel, but it fades. Marie's attitude shifts as she spends years, decades, in the abbey. And we do follow her for the span of decades, the events of the book are told in vignettes of abbey life.
I had a hard time in the beginning. We spent a lot of time establishing Marie's past right off the bat, where I think it would have been preferable to sprinkle those memories in between the abbey vignettes. Once Marie really started getting the hang of this nun thing, that's when I started enjoying the novel more. The characters and conflicts Groff chooses to focus on are interesting and fun. However, that also got old eventually. Nuns live, nuns work, nuns die.
The best work here is the character study of Marie, how she builds her influence and why. We get some beautiful prose too, sapphic longing and joy. But I don't think it did any of these things fantastically enough to be memorable.
tarrowood's review against another edition
5.0
There may be more rumination on the rating of this novel, but there feels to be a sanctity that is carried throughout Matrix. Groff crafts an environment within Matrix that is palpable, even in its moments of simplicity
ellie_26's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0